Bill Text: TX SB1583 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to restricting research on potentially pandemic pathogens in this state; creating a civil penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-15 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB1583 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB1583-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Hall S.B. No. 1583
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibiting institutions of higher education or
  entities receiving public funds from conducting gain of function
  research on potentially pandemic pathogens in this state; creating
  a civil penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that:
               (1)  gain of function research was a concern for the
  federal government, resulting in a three-year moratorium on the
  funding of that research from 2014 to 2017;
               (2)  the COVID-19 pandemic may have been the result of a
  pathogen leak from a secure lab in which gain of function research
  was being conducted;
               (3)  gain of function research, which involves
  manipulating potentially pandemic pathogens, poses a biosecurity
  vulnerability to this state; and
               (4)  residents of this state have a right to know the
  vulnerabilities posed by gain of function research on pathogens.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle H, Title 3, Education Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 158 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 158. RESEARCH INVOLVING POTENTIALLY PANDEMIC PATHOGENS
         Sec. 158.001.  GENERAL DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Gain of function research" means research that
  may reasonably be anticipated to enhance the transmissibility or
  virulence of a potentially pandemic pathogen.
               (2)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003.
         Sec. 158.002.  DEFINITION OF POTENTIALLY PANDEMIC PATHOGEN.
  (a) In this chapter, "potentially pandemic pathogen" means a
  virus, bacteria, fungus or eukaryotic parasite, or any strain or
  variant of a virus, bacteria, fungus or eukaryotic parasite, that
  is:
               (1)  likely, moderately, or highly transmissible and
  likely capable of wide and uncontrollable spread in human
  populations;
               (2)  likely, moderately, or highly virulent and likely
  to cause significant mortality and morbidity in human beings; or
               (3)  likely to pose a severe threat to public health and
  safety, the capacity of public health systems, or the security of
  this state if allowed to spread within the general population.
         Sec. 158.003.  PROHIBITED GAIN OF FUNCTION RESEARCH ON
  POTENTIALLY PANDEMIC PATHOGENS. (a) Notwithstanding any other
  law, an institution of higher education may not conduct or provide
  funding to another entity to conduct gain of function research on
  potentially pandemic pathogens.
         (b)  An institution of higher education that violates this
  section is ineligible to receive state funds.
         SECTION 3.  The heading to Chapter 81, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 81. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES; PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTERS; PUBLIC
  HEALTH EMERGENCIES; POTENTIALLY PANDEMIC PATHOGENS
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. REPORT ON RESEARCH INVOLVING POTENTIALLY PANDEMIC
  PATHOGENS
         Sec. 81.451.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
               (2)  "Potentially pandemic pathogen" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 158.002, Education Code.
         Sec. 81.452.  REQUIRED REPORT. (a) Each entity, including
  an institution of higher education and a private college or
  university, or other private entity, that intends to conduct
  research on a potentially pandemic pathogen in this state,
  regardless of whether the entity will use state money for the
  research, shall, at least 90 days before beginning the research,
  provide to the department a written report on the intended research
  that includes the following information:
               (1)  the location where the research will be conducted;
               (2)  the scope, nature, and purpose of the research;
               (3)  the source of funding for the research;
               (4)  the identity of the pathogen, including the
  strains or variant of the pathogen, that will be used or analyzed in
  the research;
               (5)  the potential impacts the pathogen will have on
  the public if released into the general population; and
               (6)  the measures the entity will take to ensure the
  pathogen is not released into the general population.
         (b)  On the department's request, an entity that submits a
  report under Subsection (a) shall provide to the department any
  additional information the department determines is necessary for
  the department to:
               (1)  properly inform federal, state, and local
  governmental authorities that the research will be conducted; and
               (2)  ensure adequate response plans and resources are
  available in the event a potentially pandemic pathogen is released
  into the general population.
         (c)  If, after reviewing the information the entity submits
  under Subsections (a) and (b), the department determines that the
  entity's intended research poses a substantial and unjustifiable
  risk to public health and safety, the capacity of public health
  systems, or the security of this state, the department may:
               (1)  for research conducted by an institution of higher
  education, request the governor to issue an order prohibiting the
  research; or
               (2)  for research conducted by a private college,
  university, or other private entity, request the attorney general
  to seek an injunction to enjoin the conduct of the research.
         Sec. 81.453.  CIVIL PENALTY. (a) An entity that fails to
  timely submit a report required by Section 81.452 is liable to this
  state for a civil penalty in an amount not less than $50,000 or more
  than $100,000 for each violation. Each day of a continuing
  violation is a separate violation.
         (b)  The attorney general may investigate an alleged
  violation of this section and may sue to collect the civil penalty.
         (c)  Sovereign or governmental immunity of an institution of
  higher education to suit is waived and abolished to the extent of
  liability created by this section.
         Sec. 81.454.  RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt
  the rules necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules
  prescribing the form and manner of submitting the report required
  by Section 81.452.
         SECTION 5.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
  this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  Subchapter K, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
feedback